Container for high power generators of electronic photoflash apparatus

ABSTRACT

A trough-like container for holding a high powered generator unit of electronic photoflash apparatus, useful especially in studio photography or in commercial or industrial photography, where it is desirable to have a power unit of considerably greater power capacity than those normally used in amateur photography. For holding a high power generator of this kind, it is important to have a carrying case which is light, sturdy with respect to external blows or knocks, readily transportable, shock proof and safe so far as electrical hazards are concerned, and as compact as possible with relation to the volume of the electrical generator equipment to be contained therein. The present container is formed of foamed plastic material having a metal bearing ring integrally molded within the trough-like container near the top thereof, the ring having bore-holes for attaching the electronic flash generator carried within the container, as well as for attaching a carrying strap.

United States Patent Prochnow et al.

[451 May 20, 1975 1 CONTAINER FOR HIGH POWER GENERATORS OF ELECTRONICPHOTOFLASH APPARATUS [75] Inventors: Claus Prochnow, Braunschweig;

Hans-Jiirgen Berger, Wolfenbuttel, both of Germany [73] Assignee:Rollei-Werke Franke & Heidecke,

Germany [22] Filed: Sept. 26, 1973 [21] Appl, No.: 402,533

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 28, 1972 Germany 7235606[52] US. Cl. 220/9 F; 220/9'M; 220/73;

[51] Int. C1...B65d 25/10; B65d 25/18; 865d 25/32 [58] Field of Search220/9 F, 9 M, 12, 3.1, 220/73, 74, 71, 72, 91, 94 R, DIG. 9, 88 R, 95

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,494,507 1/1950 Curtis220/91 3,225,983 12/1965 Majka t 220/9 F X 3,491,913 l/l970 Giraudet etal. 220/9 F X Primary Examiner-Billy S. Taylor Attorney, Agent, orFirmStonebraker, Shepard & Stephens [57] ABSTRACT A trough-likecontainer for holding a high powered generator unit of electronicphotoflash apparatus, useful especially in studio photography or incommercial or industrial photography, where it is desirable to have apower unit of considerably greater power capacity than those normallyused in amateur photography. For holding a high power generator of thiskind, it is important to have a carrying case which is light, sturdywith respect to external blows or knocks, readily transportable, shockproof and safe so far as electrical hazards are concerned, and ascompact as possible with relation to the volume of the electricalgenerator equipment to be contained therein. The present container isformed of foamed plastic material having a metal bearing ring integrallymolded within the trough-like container near the top thereof, the ringhaving bore-holes for attaching the electronic flash generator carriedwithin the container, as well as for attaching a carrying strap.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PAIENmEu SHEET 2 0F 2 Fig. II

Fig. III

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION DESCRIPTION OF THEPREFERRED EMBODIMENT TheContainer of the present invention is molded Electronic flash apparatusas used in commercial from foamed plastic material, with four side wallsand photographic studios or in industrial photography frequentlyrequires power generator units having much greater power capacity thanthe power normally used in ordinary amateur photography. For greatestusefulness, the power unit as well as other parts of the complete flashapparatus must be readily transportable from place to place within thestudio itself, and also from one location to another location outside ofthe studio. This means that the power generator, frequently a ratherdelicate piece of equipment, must be mounted in a carrier or containerwhich gives the equipment suf ficient protection from external knocks orblows by accidental contact with other articles when moving it fromplace to place, and the container must also be safe in an electricalsense, giving adequate protection or shielding to nearby persons fromelectrical shocks as well as from bright or intense light dischargeswhich might occur during certain kinds of operation of the electricpower unit. The container must also give the contained electrical powerunit sufficient protection against extremes of temperature, both hot andcold, and against conditions of extreme humidity or even completewetness, protecting the contained electrical equipment against damageeven if the container happens to be set down on a wet floor or on afloor covered with a few inches of water. While still fulfilling all ofthese requirements, the container should nevertheless be as light andcompact as possible, for ease of carrying the equipment from one placeto another.

An object of the present invention is the provision of an improved andmore satisfactory container fulfilling all of the requirements abovementioned.

A further object is the provision of such a container which is simpleand easy to construct, and of relatively low cost.

A further object is the provision of such a container suitable forholding a high voltage electronic flash power unit with a power value upto, for example, 1,250 WS (watt-seconds). In the past, portable versionsof studio lighting equipment have been available only with a power valueup to about 250 WS, but in some cases considerably higher flash power isrequired for certain types of portrait photography, fashion photography,or special commercial or industrial photography, and higher power hasnot been possible in the past, in readily portable or transportableequipment. However, with the present invention, such higher flash power,up to about 1,250 WS, can be made available with reasonabletransportability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of acontainer in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, with parts broken away to show the interior construction, andwith parts arranged in exploded posi tion with respect to other parts;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section taken centrally through theupper edge of a narrow side of the container; and

FIG. 3 is a similar vertical section taken centrally through the upperedge of a wide side of the container.

a bottom wall integral with each other, the top being open, asillustrated in FIG. 11. In horizontal cross section, the shape isrectangular, the two end walls being of lesser width thancthe other twoside walls.

The foamed plastic material, of a composition known per se, is indicatedat 2. A bearing ring or reinforcing ring 1, of suitablemetal such assteel, copper, or brass, extends continuously around all four sides in alocation near the top edge, as illustrated in the drawings, and isembedded in the thickness of the foamed plastic walls. The upper edgesof the walls are rounded over, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. The innersurface of the container, both on the bottom wall and on the four sidewalls, is lined with fireproof insulating plates 3 which extend up to alocation close to the top edge of the side walls. The outer surface isformed with a waterproof leather grain type of coating as shown at 4,known per se, which extends up over the rounded upper edge of the wallsand a slight distance down the inner surface, as illustrated.

Located centrally near the upper edge of the narrower sides or ends ofthe container, there are hollow bushings 5 which are riveted orotherwise fixed in upward enlargement flanges ll) of the metal ring 1 atthese points. A carrying strap 6 has its ends fixed to the container bybolts 7 and nuts 8, the bolts passing through suitable holes near theends of the carrying strap and through the central bores of the bushings5. The outer ends of these bore-s are chamfered or countersunk, as seenin FIG. 2, to receive the heads of the strap bolts 7, if desired. Itwill be noted from FIG. 2 that the metal ring 1 and its enlargement 10,and the bushing 5, are completely surrounded by the foamed plasticmaterial, except at the ends of the bushing, which extend to and areflush with the exposed surfaces of the plastic material.

Along the wider sides of the container, at central points on such sidesor at any other desired points, there are other metal bushings 9,similar to the bushings 5 above mentioned, riveted into or otherwisefirmly attached to the metal ring 1, but at elevations somewhat belowthe elevations of the bushes 5, since the latter were attached to upwardextensions 10 on the metal ring 1, while the bushes 9 are engageddirectly with a part of the metal ring which is of normal width andwhich does not have the upward extension or ear 10. These bushes 9extend not only through the thickness of the foamed plastic material 2,but also through the thickness of the fireproof insulating plates 3, asillustrated in FIG. 3. These bushes 9 accommodate bolts or screws (notshown) which are used to fasten the high voltage electronic flashgenerator (of known form, and not illustrated) in fixed position withinthe casing or container.

The waterproof leather type coating 4 on the outside of the foamedplastic material 2 is stretched over the rounded upper edge of theplastic material and extends down inside the container as far as theupper edge of the fireproof insulating plates 3. The waterproof leathertype coating has the advantage that the container can, if necessary,stand in water up to its upper edge, without water getting into theinterior of the container and short circuiting the electronic flashgenerator or otherwise impairing its operation. Adequate ventilation fordissipating the heat generated during operation of the electricalequipment, is provided by the open top of the container, allowingadequate intake and out flow of cooling air through the ducts which formpart of the cooling system of the electrical apparatus.

By using the fireproof insulating plates 3 in connection with the foamedplastic material 2, it is possible to place the aerial or antenna forremote control of the electronic flash generator, in the casing itself,safe from damage from outside. The metal bearing ring running around thewall of the container near the upper edge only negligibly impairs thereception of signals by the aerial or antenna, because of the minimalsize of this metal bearing ring. Yet the metal bearing ring is adequatefor giving a sufficiently firm and sturdy connection between thecarrying strap and the container, so that the carrying strap will notaccidentally pull loose from the container on account of the weight ofthe electrical equipment therein, as might be the case if it wereattempted to secure a carrying strap merely to a molded plastic wallwithout the metal bearing or reinforcing ring therein. It may be notedalso in this connection that the weight of the electrical equipment iscarried directly by the bushes 9 which are, like the carrying strap,attached to the metal bearing ring, and thus the weight of theelectrical parts is transferred from them directly to the metal bearingring and from the bearing ring directly to the carrying strap, so thatthe weight of the electrical parts within the container does not putstress or strain on the foamed plastic material itself.

The fireproof insulation plates 3 are attached, near their upper edges,to the metal bearing ring 1 by means of rivets ll spaced at suitableintervals. When the con tainer is made, they are already fitted in themold when the process of foaming is effected.

The foamed plastic material is preferably colored black, but in anyevent, whatever the color of the foamed plastic, the outer surfacecoating 4 is colored black, and the insulating plates 3 constituting theinner lining are also colored black. Thereby any light flashes caused bytechnical reasons during operation of the high voltage electronic flashcircuit, are prevented from escaping into the surrounding space, exceptthrough the top of the container, and the electrical equipment isusually so designed, with top closure plates or the like, that flashescannot escape appreciably through the top opening of the container.

In order to protect the carrying strap and to enable betterstackability, the carrying strap is folded into the generator containerwhen not in use. This has the advantage that there are no protrudingedges or bushes. To accomplish this infolding, the ends of the carryingstrap come down against the inner surfaces of the end walls, rather thanthe outer surfaces, and the strap can be swung sideways around the bolts7.

What is claimed is:

1. A container for a portable high voltage electronic flash power unitcomprising a hollow body having side walls of foamed plastic material, ametallic bearing ring extending along said side walls embedded in thethickness thereof near the top edges thereof, means for attaching acarrying strap to said metallic bearing ring, and means for attaching aflash power unit within the container to said metallic bearing ring sothat the weight of said power unit is transferred to the carrying strapmainly through said metallic bearing ring rather than through saidfoamed plastic material.

2. A container as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for attaching astrap and a power unit to said bearing ring includes a plurality ofmetal bushes firmly secured to said bearing ring, each of said busheshaving a length corresponding substantially to the thickness of the wallwhere the bush is located and having a bore extending through the bushin the direction of the thickness of the wall, through which bore afastening element may extend, for attachment to the carrying strap orthe power unit, respectively.

3. A container as defined in claim 2, wherein said bearing ring iscompletely encircled and covered by said foamed plastic material andonly the inner and outer ends of said bushes are exposed at the innerand outer surfaces of said walls.

4. A container as defined in claim 2, wherein said bushes are rivetedinto openings in said bearing ring.

5. A container as defined in claim 1, wherein said container includes abottom wall integral with said side walls and also formed of foamedplastic material.

6. A container as defined in claim 5, further comprising fireproofinsulation plates lining the inner faces of said side walls and bottomwall.

7. A container as defined in claim 1, wherein said foamed plasticmaterial is colored black and has a waterproof leather grain typecoating on the exterior surfaces of the container walls.

8. A container as defined in claim 1, wherein said carrying strap isattached to the container at the inner faces of the walls of thecontainer so that the strap may be folded into the container when not inuse.

1. A container for a portable high voltage electronic flash power unitcomprising a hollow body having side walls of foamed plastic material, ametallic bearing ring extending along said side walls embedded in thethickness thereof near the top edges thereof, means for attaching acarrying strap to said metallic bearing ring, and means for attaching aflash power unit within the container to said metallic bearing ring sothat the weight of said power unit is transferred to the carrying strapmainly through said metallic bearing ring rather than through saidfoamed plastic material.
 2. A container as defined in claim 1, whereinsaid means for attaching a strap and a power unit to said bearing ringincludes a plurality of metal bushes firmly secured to said bearingring, each of said bushes having a length corresponding substantially tothe thickness of the wall where the bush is located and having a boreextending through the bush in the direction of the thickness of thewall, through which bore a fastening element may extend, for attachmentto the carrying strap or the power unit, respectively.
 3. A container asdefined in claim 2, wherein said bearing ring is completely encircledand covered by said foamed plastic material and only the inner and outerends of said bushes are exposed at the inner and outer surfaces of saidwalls.
 4. A container as defined in claim 2, wherein said bushes areriveted into openings in said bearing ring.
 5. A container as defined inclaim 1, wherein said container includes a bottom wall integral withsaid side walls and also formed of foamed plastic material.
 6. Acontainer as defined in claim 5, further comprising fireproof insulationplates lining the inner faces of said side walls and bottom wall.
 7. Acontainer as defined in claim 1, wherein said foamed plastic material iscolored black and has a waterproof leather grain type coating on theexterior surfaces of the container walls.
 8. A container as defined inclaim 1, wherein said carrying strap is attached to the container at theinner faces of the walls of the container so that the strap may befolded into the container when not in use.